STREET WORK AHEAD

With the arrival of dependable construction weather, Cape Girardeans soon will start seeing benefits of the half-cent city sales tax that voters overwhelmingly adopted last August, specifically targeted for a list of street projects.

Just three and one-half months have passed since the tax went on the books Jan. 1, and already enough money is available for the city to attack the priority list of street improvements that residents said they want done. Fittingly, the city is sticking to the list in planning the work and awarding contracts.

As of April 4, the city had awarded a contract on the paving of Brucher Street. Contracts for the paving of three other gravel streets -- Jasmine, Magnolia and Dixie -- are about ready to be awarded, and the paving of Rand Street is under design.

In its April 4 report on the transportation tax fund, the city updated progress on improving about two dozen streets, all of which are on the priority list the city adopted at the suggestion of city residents. Paving of gravel streets was considered a No. 1 necessity. It is good that the city plans to carry out the paving in the spring so that dust won't be a problem for people living along those streets come summer.

There are a number of major improvements that already being planned. Among them: Reconstruction of Perryville Road near Meyer Drive to the city limits, construction of Hopper Road between Mount Auburn and Kage roads, construction of Silver Springs Road between William and Independence, and widening and reconstruction of Broadway.

It won't be long before noticeable street improvements are taking place, improvements that long have been needed but until now couldn't be done because of other demands on city revenue. The transportation tax has come along at a time when residential expansion has put increased demands on outlying streets and created needs for new ones. At the same time, some existing interior streets are in need of major maintenance.

The projected $17 million that will be raised over the five-year life of the transportation sales tax will assure that street needs are met as the city continues its northerly and westerly growth. And with the city following the priority plan, residents can take some confidence that improvements, as they see it, will be carried out in timely fashion.